Error selecting project - Object reference...get_DefaultPartsDB

Error or Warning Message

The following error occurs at startup or when certain projects are selected or right-clicked:

Internal ErrorError Message: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.TargetSite: System.String get_DefaultPartsDB()DeclaringType: ECT.ECAD.API.ProjectSettingsAttributes: publicMemberType: Method

The problem project(s) will either list no pages when selected or list the pages from other projects, so the problem projects cannot be opened.

Explanation

This error has been found to occur with locked projects. It can be reproduced by locking a project then restarting the software.

How to Resolve

Close the software.

Using Windows Explorer, find the ProjectOptions.xml file in the problem project's folder.

Right-click the ProjectOptions.xml file and select Properties.

Disable the Read-Only check box, click OK.

Repeat for the remaining problem projects.

Restart the software to eliminate the error.

Projects can then be unlocked by right clicking the project name in Project Manager and disabling Lock Project.

Alternatively, the read-only property could be cleared for the parent folder of the project folders and "Apply changes to this folder, subfolders and files" chosen when prompted. This would affect all the project folders within the parent folder in a single step. A disadvantage of this method would be that the drawing files would no longer be read-only which, although they would still open as read-only in Promis.e or Bentley Substation, would allow them to be changed if opened with another application.